Highlights
- The Knights Exams in “I’m in Love With the Villainess” feature intense battles between characters, showcasing their unique abilities and power levels.
- Prince Thane easily defeats Prince Yu in their duel, demonstrating the vast difference in their elemental mastery.
- Rae triumphs over Claire in their highly anticipated fight, exposing Claire’s weaknesses and further hinting at her potential transformation into a villain.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for I’m in Love With the Villainess, Episode 5, “The Knight Exam Is Packed with Drama,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
After a dramatic invasion of the academy, I’m in Love With the Villainess’ narrative has simmered down as the show is back to its lighthearted comedic antics. However, the stakes are still high for Rae Taylor as she partakes in the Knights Exams, a test that serves as an entrance exam for the academy’s student body. Akin to student bodies in other anime, the Knights are an independent group that function within the academy, and being a part of this group is viewed with high reverence.
The Knights Exams involve a practical test, requiring a one-versus-one duel between two opponents. With Rae, Claire, and the three princes taking part, this year’s Knight Exams are anticipated to be the fiercest ones yet. The results of the battles prove this prediction, with each one offering viewers an action-packed fight.
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Prince Thane Vs. Prince Yu
The very first battle of the Knights Exams featured two of the Bauer Princes, duking it out for the title of the stronger prince. Thane was expected to be the winner already with his advanced mastery over the wind element, which was set to overwhelm Yu’s intermediate mastery over the water element. Despite an intermediate grasp over his powers, Prince Yu’s powers are still comparable to his brothers’.
Yu put up a decent fight with his ice-based abilities, though they paled in comparison to Thane’s wind-based abilities. He was able to utilize his wind to counter every single one of Yu’s attacks, eventually forcing the younger prince to yield in battle. The battle revealed the disparity in power between the three princes, along with showcasing the extent of each prince’s powers.
Prince Rod Vs. Misha
The second battle took place between Prince Rod and Misha, two exceptional mages that received an extremely high score in the magic exams. Despite a mere intermediate mastery over the fire element, Prince Rod is a formidable opponent and arguably the strongest of the three princes. Rod’s disposition further aids his firepower as he loves to show off his skills and abilities.
Staying true to his nature, Prince Rod directly goes on the offensive, marring Misha with a barrage of fire attacks. To everyone’s surprise, however, Misha was able to counter every single attack with her specialized supersonic ability. Her skills are rather impressive as she has turned wind, a support element, into a powerful weapon. Despite her valiant efforts, Prince Rod eventually overwhelms Misha with a volley of attacks, debilitating her entirely by cutting off her oxygen.
Rae Vs. Claire
The final and most anticipated battle is between Rae Taylor and Claire Francois, with the public opinion favoring the latter quite vehemently. For Rae and Claire, the Knight’s selection wasn’t the only thing on the line as the two entered the exam with a bet of their own. If Claire were to win the fight, Rae would have to leave the academy, while Rae’s victory would result in Claire fulfilling one wish.
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Rae went on the defensive and blocked every single one of Claire’s attacks with ease. Her knowledge about the game and its magic system shined through as she was able to use her wits and come up with new counters and techniques. Claire’s Flame Lance and Magic Ray were also nullified by Rae’s strong defensive barriers. While neither side intended on giving up, the fight was soon over after Rae trapped Claire in an underground pit.
The three princes had to step in to force Claire to yield and realize how she stood no chance against Rae. They pointed out the fact that Rae had only used one element, entirely neglecting her water attribute in the fight. This fight revealed the disparity in power between Rae and Claire, further showcasing how well-versed the former is in the game’s workings.
The Results of the Knight Exams
The Knight Exams concluded on a high note with Rae and Claire’s impressive battle, though the results of the exams were truly unexpected. In a surprising turn of events, all six had passed the Knight Exams, despite clear winners and losers from each battle. The president of the Knights later explains that the entrance exam itself is based on every single participant’s performance in battle rather than the result of each fight.
As for Rae and Claire’s bet, the former turned out to be the clear winner. Despite being able to ask for anything, Rae decides to use her wish the same as before – asking Claire to never give up no matter how hard things may get. While viewers currently remain unaware of what this could mean, it seems to be a potential way of foreshadowing Claire’s eventual descent into villainy. This also means that certain events are bound to take place that could possibly lead the entire character roster against the currently-beloved Claire Francois.
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